Methods, devices, and systems for remotely controlling a communication device

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for controlling communication systems for the hearing impaired are disclosed. A portable communication device requests control over a plurality of communication devices. The portable communication device connects to and controls the plurality of communication devices. The portable communication device includes a user interface that enables a user to transfer a call from a first communication device to a second communication device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/641,156, filed Mar. 6, 2015 (U.S. Pat. No. 9,325,840), which is acontinuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/829,471, filed Mar.14, 2013 (U.S. Pat. No. 8,978,112), the entire disclosure of each ofwhich is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference.

FIELD

Embodiments of the application relate to video and telecommunicationsystems and methods for controlling communication systems and, moreparticularly, to systems and methods for controlling communicationsystems for the hearing impaired.

BACKGROUND

Conventionally, communication systems for the hearing impaired include avariety of communication devices and services. By way of example,Sorenson Communications® offers the Ntouch® VP videophone and the VP-200videophone that utilize the Sorenson Video Relay Service,® a servicethat provides sign language interpretation to hearing impaired videophone users.

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a conventional communicationsystem for the hearing impaired 100. The conventional communicationsystem 100 includes one or more communication devices 102. Theconventional communication system 100 also includes one or more servers111, which provide services to the one or more communication devices102, such as a relay service 106.

The one or more communication devices 102 connect independently to theone or more servers 111 through a communication network 104. The one ormore communication devices 102 are controlled through attached, and/ordedicated remote, control interfaces 108.

As the communication devices 102 connect independently to the one ormore servers 111, a user is afforded limited flexibility. To illustratea limitation of the conventional communication system 100, a user havinga plurality of communication devices 102 in a dwelling that isparticipating in a call on a first communication device 102-1 mustterminate the call on the first communication device 102-1, and initiatea new call on a second communication device 102-2 in order to continuethe conversation on the second device. This limitation may particularlyinconvenience a busy user who needs to move about the dwelling duringconversations.

To illustrate another limitation of the conventional communicationsystem 100, a user controlling a first communication device 102-1 with afirst control interface 108-1 must abandon the first control interface108-1 in favor of a second control interface 108-2, in order to controla second communication device 102-2.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Disclosed are systems and methods for controlling communication systemsfor the hearing impaired.

Disclosed is a communication system that includes a plurality ofcommunication devices. Each of the plurality of communication devices isconfigured to connect to a communication network. The communicationsystem also includes a portable communication device. The portablecommunication device is configured to connect to the plurality ofcommunication devices through the communication network. The portablecommunication device includes a user interface. The user interface isconfigured to receive a command from a user. The user interface is alsoconfigured to transfer a call from a first communication device of theplurality of communication devices to a second communication device ofthe plurality of communication devices responsive to the command.

In other embodiments, disclosed is a method of controlling acommunication system for the hearing impaired. The method includesconnecting a plurality of communication devices for the hearing impairedto a network. The method also includes connecting a portablecommunication device to the plurality of communication devices for thehearing impaired through the communication network. The method furtherincludes receiving a command from a user through a user interface of theportable communication device. The method also includes transferring acall from a first communication device for the hearing impaired to asecond communication device for the hearing impaired responsive to thecommand.

In other embodiments, disclosed is a communication system. Thecommunication system includes at least one communication device. Thecommunication system also includes a portable communication device. Theportable communication device is configured to connect to anauthentication service through a first network. The portablecommunication device is further configured to send a request to theauthentication service to obtain permission for controlling the at leastone communication device. The portable communication device is alsoconfigured to connect to and control the at least one communicationdevice through at least one of the first network and a second network.

Also disclosed is a method of controlling a communication system for thehearing impaired. The method includes connecting a portablecommunication device to an authentication service through a firstnetwork. The method also includes sending a request from the portablecommunication device to the authentication service to obtain permissionfor the portable communication device to control a plurality ofcommunication devices for the hearing impaired. The method furtherincludes connecting the portable communication device to each of theplurality of communication devices for the hearing impaired through atleast one of the first network and a second network responsive to theauthentication service granting permission to the portable communicationdevice. The method also includes controlling the plurality ofcommunication devices for the hearing impaired with the portablecommunication device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a conventional communicationsystem for the hearing impaired;

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of a communication system;

FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of a portable communication device;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method of controlling a communication systemwith a portable communication device;

FIG. 5 is a simplified schematic illustration of a user interface of aportable communication device in a standby mode;

FIG. 6 illustrates the user interface of FIG. 5 indicating an incomingcall; and

FIG. 7 illustrates the user interface of FIG. 5 in an in-call mode.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown byway of illustration, specific embodiments in which the disclosure may bepracticed. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail toenable those of ordinary skill in the art to practice the disclosure. Itshould be understood, however, that the detailed description and thespecific examples, while indicating examples of embodiments of thedisclosure, are given by way of illustration only and not by way oflimitation. From this disclosure, various substitutions, modifications,additions rearrangements, or combinations thereof within the scope ofthe disclosure may be made and will become apparent to those of ordinaryskill in the art.

In accordance with common practice, the various features illustrated inthe drawings may not be drawn to scale. The illustrations presentedherein are not meant to be actual views of any particular method,device, or system, but are merely idealized representations that areemployed to describe various embodiments of the disclosure. Accordingly,the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily expanded orreduced for clarity. In addition, some of the drawings may be simplifiedfor clarity. Thus, the drawings may not depict all of the components ofa given apparatus (e.g., device) or method. In addition, like referencenumerals may be used to denote like features throughout thespecification and figures.

Information and signals described herein may be represented using any ofa variety of different technologies and techniques. For example, data,instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, and chipsthat may be referenced throughout the above description may berepresented by voltages, currents, electromagnetic waves, magneticfields or particles, optical fields or particles, or any combinationthereof. Some drawings may illustrate signals as a single signal forclarity of presentation and description. It will be understood by aperson of ordinary skill in the art that the signal may represent a busof signals, wherein the bus may have a variety of bit widths and thedisclosure may be implemented on any number of data signals including asingle data signal.

The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, circuits, andalgorithm acts described in connection with embodiments disclosed hereinmay be implemented as electronic hardware, computer software, orcombinations of both. To clearly illustrate this interchangeability ofhardware and software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules,circuits, and acts are described generally in terms of theirfunctionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as hardware orsoftware depends upon the particular application and design constraintsimposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans may implement thedescribed functionality in varying ways for each particular application,but such implementation decisions should not be interpreted as causing adeparture from the scope of the embodiments of the disclosure describedherein.

In addition, it is noted that the embodiments may be described in termsof a process that is depicted as a flowchart, a flow diagram, astructure diagram, or a block diagram. Although a flowchart may describeoperational acts as a sequential process, many of these acts can beperformed in another sequence, in parallel, or substantiallyconcurrently. In addition, the order of the acts may be re-arranged. Aprocess may correspond to a method, a function, a procedure, asubroutine, a subprogram, etc. Furthermore, the methods disclosed hereinmay be implemented in hardware, software, or both. If implemented insoftware, the functions may be stored or transmitted as one or moreinstructions or code on a computer-readable medium. Computer-readablemedia includes both computer storage media and communication mediaincluding any medium that facilitates transfer of a computer programfrom one place to another.

It should be understood that any reference to an element herein using adesignation such as “first,” “second,” and so forth does not limit thequantity or order of those elements, unless such limitation isexplicitly stated. Rather, these designations may be used herein as aconvenient method of distinguishing between two or more elements orinstances of an element. Thus, a reference to first and second elementsdoes not mean that only two elements may be employed there or that thefirst element must precede the second element in some manner. Also,unless stated otherwise a set of elements may comprise one or moreelements.

Elements described herein may include multiple instances of the sameelement. These elements may be generically indicated by a numericaldesignator (e.g. 110) and specifically indicated by the numericalindicator followed by an alphabetic designator (e.g., 110A) or a numericindicator preceded by a “dash” (e.g., 110-1). For ease of following thedescription, for the most part, element number indicators begin with thenumber of the drawing on which the elements are introduced or most fullydiscussed. Thus, for example, element identifiers on a FIG. 1 will bemostly in the numerical format 1xx and elements on a FIG. 4 will bemostly in the numerical format 4xx.

Embodiments include systems and methods for controlling communicationsystems for the hearing impaired. It should be noted that while theutility and application of the various embodiments of the disclosure aredescribed with reference to a hearing impaired environment, thedisclosure also finds application to any environment where control overone or more communication devices may be helpful or desirable.

The term “incoming call” refers to an incoming communication to acommunication device such as a portable communication device. Thisincoming communication should be considered to include communicationssuch as E-mail, text messages, instant messages, voice communications,and video communications.

As used herein, the terms “connect,” “connecting,” “connection,” andother derivations of “connect” refer to communicating or establishing acommunication between two or more elements. These terms do notnecessarily mean that there is a physical connection between theelements. The “connection” may be through an appropriate wirelesscommunication network as well as a wired communication network.

FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram of a communication system 200. Thecommunication system 200 may include a plurality of communicationdevices 202. The communication system 200 may also include acommunication network 204, a portable communication device 208, and oneor more servers 211.

Each of the plurality of communication devices 202 may comprise acommunication device for the hearing impaired, including a video phonecapability. Although the simplified block diagram of FIG. 2 illustratesthree communication devices 202-1, 202-2, 202-3, the disclosurecontemplates any number, including one, of communication devices.

Each of the plurality of communication devices 202 may be placed indifferent locations in or around a building. By way of example, and notof limitation, the plurality of communication devices 202 may each beplaced in a different room of a dwelling. One or more of the pluralityof communication devices 202 may additionally be placed in locationsremote from others of the plurality of communication devices 202, suchas in different buildings. By non-limiting example, one or morecommunication devices 202 may be located at a user's home, and anothercommunication device 202 may be located at the user's place ofemployment.

The plurality of communication devices 202 may be physical hardwaredevices such as, for example, video phones, telephones, and cellulartelephones. The plurality of communication devices 202 may also besoftware endpoints configured to be accessed on devices configured toexecute software commands, such as, for example, smart phones, tabletcomputers, desktop computers, laptop computers, and HDMI sticks.

Each of the plurality of communication devices 202 may be configured toconnect to the one or more servers 211 through the communication network204. The communication network 204 may comprise any one or combinationof a personal area network (PAN), a local area network (LAN), a widearea network (WAN), or other kind of network.

The one or more servers 211 may be configured to provide services to theone or more communication devices 202. The one or more servers 211 mayinclude a relay service 206 configured to provide a hearing impaireduser the ability to communicate with standard telephone users, such as,for example, hearing capable individuals. By way of non-limitingexample, the relay service 206 may include a sign language translationservice, a text to voice service, a voice to text service, orcombinations thereof. The relay service 206 is configured to connect tothe communication network 204.

The one or more servers 211 may also include an authentication service207 configured to authenticate the user of a communication device 202,allowing that user to control the functionality of the communicationdevice 202 and/or access the services provided by the one or moreservers 211. The authentication service 207 is configured to connect tothe communication network 204.

The one or more servers 211 may additionally include a session service209. The session service 209 may be configured to initiate andadminister communication sessions for the communication devices 202. Thecommunication sessions may include communications such as voicecommunications and video communications. By way of non-limiting example,the communication sessions may include the sign language translation,text to voice, and voice to text communication sessions discussed abovewith respect to the relay service 206. Also by way of non-limitingexample, the session service 209 may utilize a Session InitiationProtocol (SIP), an H.323 protocol, and other suitable protocols.

In some embodiments, the one or more servers 211 may be a single serverdevice connected to the communication network 204. The various functionsdescribed with respect to the relay service 206, the authenticationservice 207, and the session service 209 may consequently be performedby a single device. In other embodiments, the one or more servers 211may be more than one server device. The various functions described withrespect to the relay service 206, the authentication service 207, andthe session service 209 may consequently be performed by separate serverdevices. In still other embodiments, the various functions of the relayservice 206, the authentication service 207, and the session service 209may be performed by two or more server devices, and may not necessarilybe isolated to separate server devices.

The portable communication device 208 may be configured to connect tothe authentication service 207 through the communication network 204.The portable communication device 208 may also be configured to send arequest to the authentication service 207 to obtain permission toconnect to and control the plurality of communication devices 202.

The portable communication device 208 also may be configured to connectto and control the plurality of communication devices 202 through thecommunication network 204, which may occur responsive to receivingpermission from the authentication service 207 in some cases. Theportable communication device 208 may also be configured to control theplurality of communication devices 202 with a transmission controlprotocol (TCP), a user datagram protocol (UDP), or other suitableprotocol. It will be appreciated that the portable communication device208 may alternatively connect to the authentication service 207 througha first network (not shown), and to the plurality of communicationdevices 202 through a second network (not shown). As a non-limitingexample, the first network may be a “Wi-Fi” type network and the secondnetwork may be a “BLUETOOTH®” type network.

The portable communication device 208 may be further configured to causea call to transfer from a first communication device 202-1 to a secondcommunication device 202-2 responsive to the portable communicationdevice 208 receiving a command from a user of the portable communicationdevice 208 through a user interface of the portable communication device208. The portable communication device 208 may be configured to performthe transfer with a session initiation protocol (SIP), an H323 protocol,or other suitable protocol.

FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram of a portable communication device308. The portable communication device 308 may include any of a tabletcomputer, a laptop computer, a cellular telephone, and any otherportable device configured to send and receive communications. Theportable communication device may include a processor 310, a storagedevice 312, one or more transceivers 314, an input device 318, and anoutput device 320. The processor 310 may be configured to operablycouple to and control the transceiver 314, the storage device 312, theinput device 318, and the output device 320.

The storage device 312 may include any one or combination of a randomaccess memory, a computer readable media, a flash memory, and anerasable programmable read only memory, etc. The storage device 312 maybe configured to store any of a list of contacts, a call history, avoicemail greeting, a voicemail message, and a plurality ofmachine-executable commands for controlling the portable communicationdevice 308.

The transceivers 314 are configured to operably connect the portablecommunication device 308 to the communication network 204. Thetransceiver may include a wireless communication device configured toconnect the portable communication device 308 to the communicationnetwork 204. By way of example, and not of limitation, the transceivers314 may be configured to connect to the communication network 204through a “Wi-Fi” connection. In the other embodiments, the transceivers314 may include a communication port configured to connect the portablecommunication device 308 to the communication network 204 through acable. By way of example, and not of limitation, the communication portmay be configured to connect to an Ethernet cable.

The input device 318 and the output device 320 may optionally beimplemented as a single input-output device 316 such as a touch-screendisplay. In other embodiments of the disclosure, the input device 318and the output device 320 may be implemented as separate devices. By wayof example, and not of limitation, the input device 318 may include anyof a mouse, a keyboard, a track pad, a button array, and a remotecontrol. Also by way of example, and not of limitation, the outputdevice may include an LED array, a segmented display, a liquid crystaldisplay, a cathode ray tube display, and a plasma display. The outputdevice 320 may be configured to display a user interface (not shown).The input device 318 may be configured to receive a command from theuser.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method 400 of controlling acommunication system 200 with a portable communication device 208 (FIG.2). Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the method 400 may include operationalblock 430, comprising connecting to an authentication service 207. Themethod 400 may also include operational block 432, comprising sending arequest to the authentication service 207 requesting control of thecommunication devices 202. Sending a request to the authenticationservice 207 requesting control of the communication devices 202 mayinclude sending a user name and password to the authentication service207, or sending a trusted device identification such as an internetprotocol (IP) address or a media access control (MAC) address to theauthentication service 207.

The method 400 may further include operational block 434, includingreceiving a response from the authentication service 207. If theresponse indicates the request is denied, the method 400 may includeoperational block 436, including sending another request to theauthentication service 207. If, however, another request is not sent tothe authentication service 207, the method 400 may comprise operationalblock 438, including remaining disconnected from the communicationdevices 202.

If the response from the authentication service 207, however, indicatesthat the request is granted, then the method 400 may include operationalblock 440, comprising connecting to each of the communication devices202. The method 400 may further comprise operational block 442,including entering a standby mode once the portable communication device208 is connected to the communication devices 202.

From the standby mode, the portable communication device 208 may utilizeone of several avenues to transition to operational block 448, whichincludes an act of entering an in-call mode. A first avenue may includeoperational block 450 comprising an act of receiving a command from auser to place a call from a first communication device 202-1. A secondavenue may include operational block 444, including displaying a pendingcall on a user interface. The second avenue may also include operationalblock 446, comprising receiving a command from a user to accept the callat the first communication device 202-1. The portable communicationdevice 208 may also enter the in-call mode through another avenue,represented by operational block 452 (shown with dashed lines), whichmay include placing a call or receiving a call directly on the portablecommunication device 208, or any other act suitable to transition theportable communication device 208 to the in-call mode.

During the in-call mode, the method 400 may comprise operational block454, including a step of receiving a command from a user to transfer thecall to a second communication device 202-2. The method may then includeoperational block 456, comprising transferring the call to the secondcommunication device 202-2.

After transferring the call, the portable communication device 208 mayreturn to the in-call mode. Upon termination of the call, the portablecommunication device 208 may once again return to operational block 442,including the act of entering the standby mode.

FIG. 5 is a simplified schematic illustration of a user interface 500 ofa portable communication device 308 (FIG. 3) in a standby mode. The userinterface 500 may include a plurality of contact icons 562 and aplurality of communication device icons 560. Each of the contact icons562 may display information about each of a plurality of contacts thatcorrespond to each of the contact icons 562. The information about eachof the plurality of contacts may include any of a name, a nickname, atelephone number and an image of the contact.

Each of the communication device icons 560 may correspond to one of theplurality of communication devices 202. Each of the communication deviceicons 560 may be configured to display information about thecorresponding communication device 202 (FIG. 2). By way of example, andnot of limitation, each communication device icon 560 may display any ofan identifier, a location of the communication device 202, and anoperational state of the communication device 202.

To enter an in-call mode, a user may select a contact icon 562corresponding to the contact that the user wishes to call. The user mayalso select a communication device icon 560 that corresponds to acommunication device 202 that the user wishes to utilize for the call.In some embodiments of the disclosure, the user may select the desiredcontact icon 562, and drag it near to the desired communication deviceicon 560 to place a call. In other embodiments, the user may select thedesired contact icon, and then select the desired communication deviceicon 560 to place a call.

Selecting and dragging a contact icon 562 to a communication device icon560 may include selecting and dragging the contact icon 562 with amouse. In other embodiments, selecting and dragging the contact icon 562to the communication device icon 560 may include touching and draggingthe contact icon 562 on a touch-screen. Furthermore, selecting anddragging may comprise utilizing a button array or a track pad.

FIG. 6 is the user interface 500 of FIG. 5 indicating an incoming call.The user interface 500 may include an incoming call icon 564, and a“hang up” option 566. The incoming call icon 564 may display informationabout a caller that corresponds to the incoming call icon 564. Theinformation about the caller may include any of a name, a nickname, atelephone number and an image of the caller.

The user may select the hang up option 566, causing the portablecommunication device 308 to reject the incoming call, and remain in thestandby mode. Also, the user may select the incoming call icon 564, anda communication device icon 560 (see FIG. 5) that corresponds to thecommunication device 202-1, 202-2, 202-3 that the user desires toutilize in the call. As described above with respect to placing a call,selecting the incoming call icon 564 and a communication device icon 560may comprise selecting and dragging the incoming call icon 564 with amouse, by touching a touch-screen, or utilizing a button array or atrack pad.

FIG. 7 is the user interface 500 of FIG. 5 in an in-call mode. The userinterface 564 may display an in-call icon 568 corresponding to thecontact the user is communicating with, in proximity to thecommunication device icon 560 that corresponds to the communicationdevice 202-1, 202-2, 202-3 the user selected for the call. The userinterface 500 may also display the “hang up” option.

The in-call icon 568 may display information about a contact the user isin-call with. The information about the contact may include any of aname, a nickname, a telephone number and an image of the contact. In theembodiment of the disclosure illustrated in FIG. 7, the user is in callwith contact “Richard Atencio” on a “living room” communication device.

During the in-call mode, the user may transfer the call to another ofthe communication devices 202 by selecting another of the communicationdevice icons 560. In some embodiments of the disclosure, the userinterface 500 may accept a select and drag input, as described above, totransfer a call from a first communication device 202-1 to a secondcommunication device 202-2. A select and drag input may comprise a userselecting the in-call icon 568, and dragging the in-call icon to anothercommunication device icon 560 by using a mouse or by touching atouch-screen. Alternatively, selecting and dragging may compriseutilizing a button array or a track pad.

The hang up option 566 allows the user to end the call, returning theuser interface 500 to the standby mode.

While certain illustrative embodiments have been described in connectionwith the figures, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize andappreciate that embodiments encompassed by the disclosure are notlimited to those embodiments explicitly shown and described herein.Rather, many additions, deletions, and modifications to the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the scope ofembodiments encompassed by the disclosure, such as those hereinafterclaimed, including legal equivalents. In addition, features from onedisclosed embodiment may be combined with features of another disclosedembodiment while still being encompassed within the scope of embodimentsencompassed by the disclosure as contemplated by the inventors.

What is claimed is:
 1. A communication system, comprising: a firstcommunication device; a second communication device; and a portablecommunication device configured to: connect to the first communicationdevice through a local communication network to control the firstcommunication device; connect to an authentication service and send anauthentication request to the authentication service to obtainpermission for controlling functions of the first communication device;receive a command from a user through a user interface and cause anongoing call to transfer from the first communication device to thesecond communication device responsive to the command and to theauthentication service granting permission to the portable communicationdevice for the transferring function, wherein the user of the portablecommunication device is the same user of the first communication deviceinstead of a remote agent.
 2. The communication system of claim 1,wherein the user interface of the portable communication devicecomprises: a screen configured to display: a plurality of device icons,each device icon of the plurality corresponding to one of a plurality ofcommunication devices that are connected with the portable communicationdevice; and a call icon located proximate a first device icon of theplurality of device icons, the first device icon corresponding to thefirst communication device.
 3. The communication system of claim 2,wherein the user interface is further configured to enable the user toselect the call icon and perform an act from the group consisting of:dragging the call icon from proximate the first device icon to alocation on the screen proximate a second device icon corresponding tothe second communication device; and selecting the second device iconcorresponding to the second communication device during the ongoing callwith the first communication device.
 4. The communication system ofclaim 3, wherein the user interface comprises a touch-screen interfaceintegrated with the screen.
 5. The communication system of claim 2,wherein each of the plurality of device icons comprises at least one ofa text block or a graphic, the at least one of the text block or thegraphic configured to convey information about the plurality ofcommunication devices that correspond to each of the plurality of deviceicons.
 6. The communication system of claim 5, wherein the informationabout the plurality of communication devices comprises at least one ofan identifier, a location, or an operational state of the plurality ofcommunication devices connected with the portable communication device.7. The communication system of claim 1, wherein at least one of thefirst communication device or the second communication device is a videoendpoint that is specifically configured for use by a hearing impaireduser to receive interpretive services from a video relay service.
 8. Thecommunication system of claim 1, further comprising the authenticationserver configured to receive the authentication request sent from theportable communication device, and to grant the authentication requestfor the portable communication device to connect with the firstcommunication device and the second communication device.
 9. Thecommunication system of claim 1, wherein the first communication deviceand the second communication device are located within a same building.10. A method of controlling a communication system, the methodcomprising: connecting a first communication device and a secondcommunication device to a communication network; connecting a portablecommunication device to at least the first communication device througha local communication network to control the first communication device;connecting the portable communication device to an authenticationservice for the portable communication device to send an authenticationrequest to the authentication service to obtain permission forcontrolling functions of the first communication device; receiving acommand responsive to an input from a user of the first communicationdevice through the user interface of the portable communication device,wherein the user operating the portable communication device is the sameuser of the first communication device instead of a remote agent; andtransferring an ongoing call from the first communication device to thesecond communication device responsive to the command and to theauthentication service having previously granted permission to theportable communication device for controlling functions of the firstcommunication device.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the input fromthe user is received by: sensing the user selecting a call icon on adisplay of the user interface, the call icon located near a first iconon the display corresponding to the first communication device; andsensing the user dragging the call icon near to a second icon on thedisplay, the second icon corresponding to the second communicationdevice.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein sensing the user selectingthe call icon on the display of the user interface comprises at leastone of sensing the user selecting the call icon with a mouse or sensingthe user touching the call icon on a touch-screen display of the userinterface.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the first communicationdevice is located in a first location, and the second communicationdevice is located in a second location remote from the first location.14. The method of claim 10, wherein connecting the portablecommunication device to at least the first communication device throughthe local communication network including communicating with at leastthe first communication device using one of a transmission controlprotocol (TCP) and a user datagram protocol (UDP).
 15. The method ofclaim 10, wherein connecting the portable communication device to atleast the first communication device through the local communicationnetwork occurs over at least one of a local Wi-Fi network or a Bluetoothnetwork.
 16. The method of claim 10, wherein transferring the ongoingcall includes the portable communication device performing the transfer.17. The method of claim 16, wherein the portable communication deviceperforms the transfer using at least one of a session initiationprotocol (SIP) or a H323 protocol.
 18. A system for assistinghearing-impaired users during calls with translation services, thesystem comprising: a video relay service configured to provide thetranslation services during calls involving at least onehearing-impaired user; a plurality of video communication devicesconfigured to communicate via a communication network with the videorelay service during calls to receive the translation services, theplurality of video communication devices including at least a firstvideo communication device and a second video communication device; anda portable communication device configured to: connect to anauthentication service through the communication network; send anauthentication request to the authentication service to obtainpermission for controlling functions of the first communication device;connect with the plurality of communication devices to control operationthereof; and cause an ongoing call to be transferred from the firstvideo communication device to the second video communication deviceresponsive to an input command from a user to the portable communicationdevice and to the authentication service having previously grantedpermission to the portable communication device for controllingfunctions of the first communication service, wherein the user of theportable communication device is the same user as the first videocommunication device and not a remote agent.
 19. The system of claim 18,further comprising the authentication service configured to receive theauthentication request sent from the portable communication device andto verify authentication information prior to granting permission forthe portable communication device to control operation of the one ormore of the plurality of video communication devices.
 20. The system ofclaim 19, further comprising a session service configured to initiateand administer communication sessions for the plurality of videocommunication devices.